Railway signal



June 5, 1923.

1,457,673" ,A. O. RUSSELL -RAILWAY SIGNAL Fi led Sept. 1 1 1922 5Sheets-Sheet l A. 0. Russell June 5, 1923.

1,457,673 A. o. RUSSELL RAILWAY S IGNAL Filed Sept. 11. 1922 5Shets-Sheet 2 June 5, 1923.

\ 1,457,673 A. O. RUSSELL RAILWAY SIGNAL I Filed Sept. 11 1922 5Sheets-Sheet 5 June 5, 1923.

A. o. RUSSELL RAILWAY SIGNAL Filed Sept. 11, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 4Junefi, 1923. 4 1,457,673

A. O. RUSSELL RAILWAY SIGNAL Filed Sept. 11 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5gwvmfo'a argirssazj v attozneip 40 along line 8-8 of Fig. 14;

Patented June 5, 1923.

UNIT D ST ANNIS OLI RUSSELL, OF STORY CITY, IOWA.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

Application filed September 11, 1922. Serial No. 587,476.

of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RailwaySignals, of

which the following is a specification.

Thepresent invention relates to railway signals which are mechanicallyoperated by a train entering a section. The object of the invention .isto provide signals of this character of simple construction and whichare I sure to function. For this purpose a signal post is erected in asuitable position near the track and this signal post is adapted to heturned to show danger by the train entering from either end of thesection, which signal will again be turned to clear. d rectly the trainhas passed the post, mechanical devices extending from the trackconvnecting in both instances with the signal post tooperatethe same. a

In the accompanying drawings one embodiment of the invention isillustrated and Figs. 1 and l together form a plan view showing thegeneral arrangement of the railway signal together with the railroadtrack from which it is operated;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation in larger scale of the setting lever of thesignal;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of Fig. 2; Fig. e is a sideview fromtheright of. Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front view of a guiding block: Fig. 6 is a vertical sectionalong line 6-6 of Fig. 5; V

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the signal r a Fig. 8 is a fragmentaryvertical section Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the releasing lever ofthe signal; i

Fig. 10 is a vertical section along line 10--1 0 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a tensioning device for the cable-s3 IFig. 12 is a vertical section showing elastic connection between thedifferent parts of the cable; Fig. 18 is the stationary guide box for acable connecting rod and Fig. 14 is a horizontal section along line 1%14oi Fig. 7.; v v

Refer-rmgpartmularly to Figs. 7, v8, 1

and 14 reference numeral 20 represents an anchoring post set in theground and having anchoring wings 19 and plates 21 extending sidewaysthereof to prevent the post from turning in the ground, This post isprovided with a table shaped top 22 adapted to form' a turn table forthe signal column 23-, which is erected thereupon. The anchoring post 20is further provided with a cen-. tral pintle 24 extending. upwardly fromthe turn table 22 and around which the signal column 23 is adapted toturn.

The signal column 23 stands with upper-end sufficiently high above theground to be visible at some distance with a signal board 25, upon whichpreferably a warning such as danger or stop is shown. The signal column23 has atits lowerend an en larged base 26 placed upon the turn table 22of the anchoring post 20 and provided with a circumferential groove 27.At the lower end of the base 26 is furnished rigidly connected to thelatter an arcuate guide 28 intended to carry a coiled spring 29 abuttingat. one endv against the base 26 as at 30 and at the other end against aloop 31 carried by the turn table 22 in such a manner, thatthe coiled.spring 29 tends to 'turnthe base of the signal post in the direction ofarrow W Fig. 14. This'turn ing is limitedby means of a nut or pin 32engagingin the free end of the arcuate guide 28 onthe opposite side tothe spring 29 as regards the lug or loop 31.

Above the .b-as'e26' provided a pair of collars 33 bet-ween whichengage'thefingers of a clevisiil. This clevishas a socket 35 engagingthe end of a shaft 86 extending from the signal column 23 over to thenearby track 37 where a bearing 38 is provided for the other end of theshaft 36 and rigidly secured upon a pairof ties 39. Extending to oneside of the shaft- 86 is a heavy weight 4-0 tending to turn the shaft inone direction to lift a lever ll extending in opposite di- 'rection tothe weight 40, the free end'of the lever e1 being wedge shaped as at 42and positioned close to one of the rails of the track 3? in such amanner, that a wheel of a passing railway car will depress it, raisingthe weight 4L0 and slightly oscillating the shaft 36. The latter hasadjacent to its end engaging in the socket 35, a finger. $8 tended toabut against a lug provided which cable 58 is guided.

the top of the base 26 in order to retain the signal column 23, when setin its danger position. i hen the wedge 42 of the lever 41 is depressed,it will then be evident that the lifting of the finger 43 will disengagethe lug and permit the spring 29 to turn the signal column 2-3 intoclear position.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 2, 3 and 4, these figuresrepresent the actuating or setting lever 50, normally upright which isrigidly attached to a shaft 19, revolubly mounted in a pair of bearings51 and 52 secured on a tie 58 in any suitable man ner as by means ofbolts and the like. The free end of the setting lever carries a smallroller 54, which is normally raised perpendicularly above the top faceof a rail on the track 37 and adapted to be depressed by a wheel of apassing car. The roller 54 is held in a raised position by means of acounter-weight 55 rigidly carried at the opposite end of the shaft 49.Between the countenweight 55 and the bearing 51 is loosely mounted uponthe shaft 49 a sheave 56. to which is secured the end of a cable 58 bymeans of a transverse pin 57. in a suitable position in the groove ofthe sheave. The sheave carries a stud 59 normally contacting with thebearing 51, so that the.

weight and tension of the cable 58 tends to hold the stud against thesame, thereby preventing the sheave 56 from turning in oppositedirection to arrow X, see Figs. 2 and i. On the opposite side face ofthe sheave 56 is provided another stud 6O positioned in such a mannerthat it will normally engage with an abutment 61 furnished on thecounter-weight 55 as best seen in Fig. 4. It will now be seen that, fromthe position of the rest of the different parts shown in full lines inFigs. 2. 3 and 4, a depression of roller 54 in the direction of arrow X,will cause the shaft with the counter-weight 55 to turn in the directionof the arrow X and thus compel the sheave 56 to pull the cable 58 in thesame direction through the intermediary of the abutment 61 and stud andin this manner partly wind the cable 58 upon the sheave 56, until theroller 56% has descended into the position indicated by dot and dashlines in Fig. 2. in Figs. 5'and 6 is shown a guide box 62 carrying apair of guide rollers 63 between This guide box 62 is preferably securedon top of the tie 6 by means of a screw 65 or the like.

In Fig. 11 i shown an adjusting device for cable 58, the end of which isrigidly secured in a ring 66 at the opposite side of which a rod 67 isattached by means of a nut 68 and locking key or pin. The rod 67,

which is threaded and provided with trans verse apertures for a cotterpin 71, engages the threaded end of the clevis 69. The other end of theclevis engages the end of a second cable rigidly secured therein. Itwill now be evident, that by means of the threaded engagement betweenthe adjusting rod 67 and clevis 69 the cables 58 and 70 may be tensionedto a suitable degree and held in such tension by means of the cotter pin71. A guide box 62 of the same construction as already described is alsofurnished for cable 70 and secured to a tie 72, see Fig. 1 The other endof the cable 70 s secured to a tension rod 73 as at 74, see Fig. 12.This tension rod runs freely in a link 5 which is made in the shape ofan elongated loop. to the opposite end of which third cable 76 isrigidly secured as at 77. Jpon the tension rod 73 is mounted a coiledcompression spring 78 abutting against one end ofthe link and engaging awasher 79 earned on the free end of the rod 73, the washer being held inposition by a nut 80 threaded 0n the rod.

Referring to Figs. 1" and 13 the end of cable 76 is secured to thelooped end of sliding bar 89 carried in a guide box 90 provided with twopairs of uide rollers 91, between which the bar 89 is adapted to slide.This bar 89 extends through the box 90 to the other side thereof andterminates with a. loop 9 1 of the same construction as the loopengaging the cable 76 of the other end of the bar 89. To the loop 94 atthis end is. secured a fourth cable 95, while the loop is removablyattached to the rod 89 The cable 95 is taken around a pulley or sheave96 and is with its free end secured in the groove 27 of the base 26.This pulley 96 is revolubly mounted on the end of tension rod 97,carried in a guide box 98 of the same construction as guide box 90already described, see Fig. 1 This guide box is also stationary andsecured on a tie 99. The right end of the tension rod 9'7, as seen inFig. 1", carries a loop 101 secured at one end of clevis 102 by means ofa short cable 160. This clevi 102 is of the same construction as theclevis 69 already described. The adjusting rod 87 of this clevis engagesa ring 103. to which is secured afifth dable 104. which runs through aguide block 62 and is attached to one end of the elastic link 75. thetension rod 88 of which is fastened to a sixth cable 105 secured to asheave 56 arranged and constructed in the same manner, as that alreadydescribed. in the setting cable 58 at A on theleft hand d operation ofthe parts 4-9, 50, 51. 52. 5 1. and are identical at both ends of'thesection Tn order to distinguish between the actuating devices, the oneto the left of Fig. 1' will be denoted actuating station A. the one atright hand end of 1 as Bend the releasing device near the signal columnwill be denoted as station C. l

connection with cf 1g. 13. In other words the construction The operationo f the 1= ail way signal is as 7 follows i Supposing that the signal isset'*for clear, "that is to say, the signal board 25 Stands at rightangles to the. track, and tha actuating levers at stations A and B aswell as the actuatingdever. H ats'tation C v signalto"clear.-

J A As soon as'the train passed station/A and approaches station 0.; thecar wheels,.

are all raised; a train approachin'g in rightha nd direction as seen inFig. PWill P s station A, When the wI-ieels of the cars will contactwiththe roller 54 and depress lever at this sta i ioilfGable *58 willthen be wound up on the sheave 56 on account of theturning of shaft 49in direction of the arrow Xin Fig. 2 actuatedby the contacting of abutmnttei with'stud co in Fig. 4;

As the ipl lll on f tjhe cable, 58 will be rather sharp, the elasticconstruction ior ned "by the clevis will come ,into play and prevent thebreaking of the cables; 7 This pull ,on-the' cable 5 8 lwillconirnunieate through cables 76 I to the re ol-ving base 26' secured on"theisi'gnal s am and turn the signal, so that the boardwill standparallel with the-tra ck, It will be noted'a't this time that the Pu e 1r nd w ii h t bablefl s u will remain stationary with the exception of amomentary deflection permitted by the elastic connection 75 .at station33. The

cable attachedjto thesheave 56 at this station does not, however, niovebecause the stud 59 of the "sheave contacts" against the side ofthe'bfe'arin'g fiand preyents the r0 tation ofthe sheaye in oppostepdirection to arrow X. The pull on the cab-le"95 compels the base 26to turn in the direction of the end of the finger 4:3 stands in the pathof'the stop 44; and abutsagainst the same, thereby preventing. thespring 29 from urning the enco in h fi sfls sn f eiffi-hs r s- 'leyer(4L1; will-depressfthis lever. r y

' turning the start as and "us he fi a out ns sam t 1 9 is h th s n Z MHthee tur the sisi to, clear. 'As the counter-weight'55'at sta-' tionprevious to the .resetting 0f the signal, had "been lifted,this weightW111 now have power to raise the actuating lever 50, and the spring 29at station C Will then pull the cables 58, 70 and 76 in the right-handdirection of Fig.- le-unti'l 'they 'b eco1netaut" assisted 'by'the cable95rand' returned to-the initial position shownin'Fig. 1

As soon as a train has passed stationlG and returned the signal to openand thelever '50 with the roller 54 into upright position 'readyior thenext train, the first train when passing 'out' over station B will thencause the roller 54and'the arm 50 at this station tofswin'g outwardly,that is to say,"

in opposite direction to arrow X-in Figs. 2 and' -3. This will noteffect the sheave 56 as the shaft turns freely therein; It will then beevident that the passing out of a.

train over station B will have no effec't on the signal. 'On the arrivalof a train over the passing'ear wheels will cause the'swing- Figs. 2a-ndl ifproducing the same effect on p statio-ri B, that: is from theright hand side of Fig.1",

ing of the actuating lever ininwald direc a tion, that isf as indicatedby arrow Xwin,

the signalasdescribed in connection'with a train arriving past stationA. In this case. a

cable 105 and pull on the cable which.

pulley 56 will then" wind up a; portion of? when passing over pulleywill caus e'the a base 26 'of the sign post23 to turn before and showdangen Theparts *to'the left w of 1001094 on rod 89 and including cable58-211; station A, now remain stationarylwi'th the exception of amomentaryyieldinq in the elastic link This yielding will, how ever,immediately cease and cable 7.6;retu rn to its normalposition. Theresetting ofQth signal .to op'en position will in this "case be accomplshed 'frornstation" C by .the a'ctiu- I ating lever 5:1 in thesarnernanner asalready described;

is claimedas-hew is:

Ha'vingthus described the invention, what y l. railway signalsystemconip'rising a base, a signal post revolubly rnoilnted onsaidbasegmeans inserted between said base and pressed by passingcar wheelover 'thlrailway track. and tension n sz means between said actuatinglever and saidp'o-st: whereby upon the debression oftheactua-tinnlever," thesignal post will beturned throuiih the intermediary of saidtensioning means against the action of said turning means. 7

2. A railway signal system comprising a base, a s gnal postrevolu'bly'rnountedon said base,- Ine ans insertedbetween said base andsaid post tending jturnthe postin'one s P t e g t turn th 'post'inionedii n motion. an actuating leyer adaptedjtobeide-i Viidirection anactuating lever aaapaaa be depressed by a passing carwheel oy erf-the 'alWf -v t and tensionine mean's'fb etweeii a de ns le a'nf fl di i herebupon the depression of the actuatingleyer, the signal post'will beturned through the intermediary of said tensioning means 8 against theaction of-said turning means;

said turning means including a guide arm,

a a spring on said guide arm and an abutment on each of said posts andbase, said spring having engagement with each of said abut- ,ments.

3.-A,railway signal system comprising a base, a signal post revolublymounted onsaid' base, means inserted between said base and said posttendingvto turn the post in'one direction, an actuating lever adapted tobe depressed by a passing car wheel over the railway track, andtensioning means between said actuating lever and said post; whereby,

upon the depression of the actuating lever,

the signal post will be turned through the intermediary of saidtensioning means against the action of said turning means,

said post having, a stop, a finger mounted to oscillatein the path ofsaid stop and to engage therewith after the turning of the post by saidactuating lever and an element adapted to release the engagement betweensaid finger and said stop.

i. A railway signal system comprising a base,,a si nal post revolublymounted on said base, means inserted between said base and said posttending to turn the post in one direction, an actuating lever adapted tobe deintermediary of pressed by a passing car wheel over the railwaytrack an d tensioning means between said actuating lever and said post;whereby,

pon the depression of the actuating lever, the signal post will beturned through the said tensioning means against the actionof saidturning means, said post having aistop, a finger mounted to 0s v cillatein the path-of said stop and to en gage , therewith after the turning ofthe post by I one directioman actuating lever dapted to be depressed bya passing car'wheel over the railway track and tensioning means betweensaid actuating lever and said post; whereby u Jon the de aressioii ofthe abtuatin lever p the signal post will be turned through theintermediary of said tensioning means against-the action of said turningmeans, bearings for said actuating lever, acounten weight secured to thelever and tending to hold it in raised position, said tensioning andsaidsheave adapted to turn the to windup the cable.

intermediary of against the action of said turn ng m'eans,,

means includinga cable, a sheave to which one end of the cable isattached, said sheave being revolubly mounted with relation to saidactuating lever, a stop for said sheave oreventin vthe unwindin of; thecable, and

intei engaging elements between said weight sheave 6. Arailway signalsystem comprising a said base, means inserted between said base and saidposttending to turn the post in one direction, an actuating leveradapted to be depressed. bya passing car wheel over the railwaytrackandtensioning means bet-Ween said actuating levera id said post;whereby, upon the depression of the actuating lever, the signal postwill be turned through the intermediary of said teiisioning meansagainst the action of said turning means,

bearingsiorsaid actuating lever, a counter weightsecured to the leverandtendingfto hold it in raised position; said tensioning meansincluding a cable, a sheavetc which .base, a signal ,post revolublymounted on' one end ot the cable, is attached, saidsheave beingrevolubly-mounted with relation to said actuating lever, a stop forsaidsheave preventing the unwinding of the cable and inter-engagingelements between said weight and said sheave adapted to turn the sheaveto wind up the cable, said tensioning means further including anadjusting device and a yieldable clevis on the cable.

7. YA railway signal system comprising a base, a signal post revolublymounted on said base, means inserted between said base and said posttending to turn the post in one direction, an actuating lever adapted tobe depressed byra passing car wheel over the railway track andtensioning meansbetween said actuating lever and said vpostg whcreby,upon the depression of the actuating lever, the signal post will beturned through the said tensioi ing means bearin stor said actuatinglever a counterweight secured to the lever and tending to hold it inraised position ;said tensioning means including a cable, a sheave towhich one end of the cable is attached, said sheave being revolublymounted with relation to said actuating lever, a. stop for said sheavepreventing the unwinding of the cable and inter-engaging elementsbetween said weight and said sheave adapted to turn the sheave to windup the cable, said-tensioning means also including anadjusting device, ayieldableclevis on the cable and guide boxes with elastic connectionswith the cables.

In testimony whereofl ailix my signature.

Annie oiii nussniiii. it, 8,

